SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT COUNSELOR

Job Specifications

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

DEFINITION

Under supervision, to interview youth applicants, develop employment plans, and recommend placement in a summer youth employment and training program; to monitor enrollees progress and assist enrollees to overcome a variety of problems through individual and group counseling; to assist in collecting information on and the evaluation of worksites; and to do other work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Positions in this class are assigned a variety of employment interviewing, counseling, monitoring and related activities in a summer employment and training program designed to provide useful work experience and training to youth enrollees and to enhance enrollees return to and performance in school. This class differs from the class of Youth Employment Counselor in that positions in the latter are used year-around to provide career-oriented employment counseling designed to place enrollees in unsubsidized employment, develop more complex employment plans, work with greater independence, and have specific production standards.

TYPICAL TASKS

Interviews youth applicants to determine their job interests and potential for summer work experience programs conducted under CETA; administers and interprets vocational interest tests; explores and identifies employment barriers and problems with applicants; assesses applicant's need for classroom training such as basic education and recommends participation as needed to applicants; develops employability plan and recommends worksites placement; provides individual and group counseling and job coaching to participants to facilitate their hiring and transition into jobs; assists in developing new worksites by visiting potential employers to obtain or verify information on supervision available and volume and level of work, and to obtain necessary signatures; may administer and interpret aptitude tests; may recommend referral of applicants to other CETA programs; orients assigned caseload of youth enrollees to summer program; makes frequent visitations to worksites and classrooms to monitor participant's progress; discusses participant's progress with worksite supervisors, parents, teachers, probation officers and others; provides continuous follow-up counseling with participants; assists in solving participant's problems, including referring participants to community services such as health services and tutoring; mediates disputes involving participants; conducts periodic group meetings and group counseling sessions with assigned participants to provide information, deal with common problems, provide job coaching, and to provide for the sharing of experiences; recommends and makes arrangements for transfer of participants to other worksites; makes recommendations to superiors regarding disciplinary actions for participants; documents all contacts; maintains counseling notes in each participant's file; obtains and files performance evaluations on each participant; maintains and updates progress reports on participants; collects time sheets; issues pay checks; prepares periodic reports as directed. At close of summer program, assists in preparing evaluations on worksites; assists participants in re-entry to school; recommends placement of some participants in other CETA programs; may assist some participants in securing unsubsidized employment.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge:

• Working knowledge of interviewing techniques as they relate to working with youth in screening and placing them in CETA programs;
• Some knowledge of employment counseling techniques and common occupations;
• Some knowledge of services available to youths.

Ability to:

• Counsel and motivate youth to improve their employability and continue in school;
• Interview youth to obtain information about their employment skills and job aspirations;
• Identify and assess needs and barriers to employment;
• Understand client problems and needs from their point of view;
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employers, teachers, parents, probation officers and others contacted in course of work;
• Prepare necessary forms, reports, and related paper work;
• Screen caseload and make appropriate recommendations regarding transfers to other programs and disciplinary actions;
• Effectively utilize community agency resources.

Training and Experience: Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these knowledge and abilities would be:

• One year of experience in counseling or interviewing, preferably with youth, including or supplemented by training in psychology, counseling, or a related field.
• Experience in employment counseling or interviewing is highly desirable.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License.